One of the big questions surrounding the New York Knicks was whether team president Phil Jackson would interfere in coach Jeff Hornacek’s practices and preparations. So far, according to Hornacek, that hasn’t happened.
“Phil’s been great,” Hornacek said Sunday, via Ian Begley of ESPN. “He’s not trying to take over and make us do anything. He’s given us the leeway. There are some things that we do that aren’t the triangle stuff [such as] our early [offense]. Quite honestly, we thought he would say, ‘Let’s not do that.’ Or, ‘Let’s not do that option.’ But he hasn’t said that at all.”
Hornacek said Jackson has been helpful in teaching but hands-off in implementing aspects of the triangle offense.
“We talk quite a bit, but he’s been hands off,” Hornacek said. “He gives some directions here and there. If he sees something or he says, ‘Hey, let’s take a look, clean this up, this particular action.’ So it’s good.
“It’s another coach out there — he’s run it for years and years, so when he sees something — really, he’s not coming in there saying, ‘Hey, change it to this,’ or ‘Change it to that.’ It’s good, additional information.”
Hornacek said when hired that his aim was to implement some of the triangle offense. That didn’t do much to silence those who questioned whether Hornacek would just be a Jackson puppet. We can’t be sure, of course, and things may change if the Knicks go south early, but Hornacek is fine with things for now.
